Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government welcomes the Treasury Committee''s Report and its acknowledgement of the concern in Scotland on current arrangements for the Crown Estate Commissioners. Building on the Treasury Committee recommendations and working constructively with the Crown Estate, we will be seeking to ensure that full weight is given to Scottish interests.

Scottish Parliament legislation may in general apply to Crown land in Scotland as it applies to other land. In the case of the Crown Estate, this is however subject to two restrictions. Scottish Parliament legislation cannot deal with the management of the Crown Estate by the Crown Estate Commissioners, nor can it deal with the hereditary revenues of the Crown.

EventScotland provided £25,000 to the 2009 O''Neill Coldwater Classic event and a further £25,000 to the 2008 O''Neill Highland Open which were both extremely successful events.

Surfing is one of five key sports promoted via VisitScotland''s adventure sports marketing activity. VisitScotland also provides specific PR support for the O''Neill Cold Water Classics. This complements the funding provided by EventScotland for the event itself.

The 2009 O''Neill Coldwater Classic in Thurso was broadcast around the world for a total of 859 hours across six continents showcasing Scotland''s breathtaking coastline and enthusiastic supporters.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31777 on 10 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31777 on 10 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government would be supportive of the Scottish Surfing Federation developing a Scottish surfing team to take part in International events. However, they have not yet gone through the formal process for recognition as the sports governing body in Scotland as agreed by the Home Country Sports Councils. sportscotland, the national agency responsible for the development of sport and physical recreation in Scotland, have offered their support to the Scottish Surfing Federation to help them through the recognition process.

If successful, as the recognised governing body for surfing in Scotland, this would put the Scottish Surfing Federation in a much stronger position when presenting their plan to enter a Scottish team in future international surfing events.

Micro-generation and offshore energy generation are already exempted from payment of business rates. It is not possible at this stage to give details of the number of businesses that will benefit from the new rates relief scheme for renewable energy producers. Figures will be available at the end of 2010-11, the first full year of the scheme. There are around 170 onshore sites across Scotland involved in the production of renewable energy that may currently be eligible to apply for relief under the scheme. The number benefiting should increase as new sites open. The Scottish Government will work with the industry to raise awareness and encourage uptake.

I am pleased to announce publication today of a Consultation Document and Environmental Report on Scotland''s Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy. The consultation is on a Detailed Statement of our Policy to support long‘term near surface, near site storage and disposal facilities so that the radioactive waste is monitorable and retrievable and the need for transporting it over long distances is minimal.

The consultation has been developed with a wide range of stakeholders who will be sent copies of the documents. I would encourage people to respond to the consultation which can be accessed at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/HAW-ConDoc or copies can be obtained from [email protected].

Copies of the documents will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 50061).

The Scottish Government is working closely with UK Government counterparts and other partners across a range of issues to achieve Scotland''s renewable energy potential. We are encouraged by recently televised comments from the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change on the need for a fair system for transmission charging and an electricity grid which is fit for purpose.

The decision regarding the upgrading of the Beauly to Denny overhead transmission line is an important one that has rightly generated a great deal of interest across Scotland. The evidence gathering involved the largest and longest running Public Local Inquiry since devolution and a wide ranging public consultation as well as in depth consideration of the environmental assessment amongst other work. It is important that it is scrutinised in close detail.

I have stated previously that I will make a decision on the applications to upgrade the Beauly to Denny overhead transmission line by the end of the year. I agree with the Convener of the Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Committee in his letter of 27 October 2009 that this issue is of such importance that the decision should be announced to Parliament. I will therefore notify Parliament, the applicants and the other interested parties of my decision at the earliest opportunity, and at that time I will make a ministerial statement to the Parliament.